New Zealand beat world champions South Africa

New Zealand survived a fightback from South Africa to win their Rugby Championship match 35-20 in Auckland.

A Faf de Klerk penalty bought the Springboks off the mark and tries from Malcolm Marx and Cheslin Kolbe lowered the deficit to 23-15.

New Zealand responded with Will Jordan and Richie Mo’unga scores earlier than a late attempt from South Africa’s Kwagga Smith.

“It is all the time bodily and an superior Check match – ones you stay up for,” stated All Blacks captain Sam Cane, whose aspect beat Argentina of their opening Rugby Championship sport.

“They’re the reigning World Cup champions so we knew it might be an excellent check to see the place we had been at as a workforce.

“We’re happy to see enchancment from final week. We all know we have nonetheless bought a technique to go to get to the place we wish to nevertheless it was an excellent Check match.”

Cane didn’t return after half-time due to damage, whereas De Klerk had to get replaced due to damage throughout the second half.

The All Blacks’ blistering begin was aided by a poor efficiency from the world champions within the opening levels, wherein they made too many unforced errors, in line with Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.

“The beginning was not concept for us, the primary 20 minutes we struggled to get into the sport due to poor self-discipline. I feel we gave away 4 consecutive penalties,” Nienaber stated.

“We made lots of errors and people errors put us below stress. The standard aspect that New Zealand are, they had been in a position to capitalise and we needed to play catch-up rugby for the remainder of the sport.”

The 2 groups will subsequent face one another at Twickenham on 25 August in a pleasant previous to the Rugby World Cup in France.

Argentina make historical past towards Wallabies

Juan Martin Gonzalez’s last-minute attempt in Sydney noticed Argentina snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in an exciting 34-31 win towards Australia within the later Rugby Championship sport.

It meant a second consecutive win for the Pumas towards the Wallabies for the primary time ever.

Australia led 10-0 after Len Ikitau’s opening try to Quade Cooper’s penalty earlier than Argentina scored the subsequent 17 factors.

Jeronimo de la Fuente completed off a attempt which adopted a nine-phase build-up, and Julian Montoya smashed his technique to the road because the Pumas took management.

In an end-to-end Check match, Nic White darted over to attract the Wallabies stage however Mateo Carreras edged the guests in entrance as soon as extra.

Samu Kerevi then hit again for Australia to arrange a tense finale earlier than the hosts thought they’d clinched victory when Mark Nawaqanitawase intercepted a free Argentinean cross to cross with 5 minutes remaining.

However Argentina weren’t completed and Gonzalez grounded the ball from a rolling maul for the bonus-point win to place extra stress on Wallabies coach Eddie Jones.

Jones has now misplaced each video games of his second spell in control of Australia following a thumping defeat by South Africa on his return final weekend.

The 63-year-old, who was sacked by England final yr, stated his aspect can problem the All Blacks of their subsequent sport regardless of “not fairly gelling” towards the Pumas.

“In 10 days we is usually a utterly completely different workforce, and that is the intention,” he stated.

“We tried to play a bit freer which concerned a bit extra determination making, however in the intervening time it isn’t fairly gelling.

“However we have to simply accept there may be going to be a bit little bit of ache.

“Should you have a look at our squad in the intervening time, there are a variety of fellows getting back from long-term accidents, so we’re not the place we needs to be.

“However that is no excuse for in the present day’s efficiency.

“It is extra about how can the workforce simply be higher determination makers across the ball and our skill to get off the road a bit tougher.

“Once more, we did not put sufficient stress on them with our defence.”